The last time I served jury duty in New York City, six years ago, there was no Internet access and cell phones intimidated the system much like they now in in schools. Talking on cell phones in the juror room where dozens of citizens waited to be called into a courtroom was discouraged, but people did it and the people around them were annoyed. Individual judges were left to deal with cell phones prospective jurors had with them during the jury selection process. I watched one judge intensely threaten confiscation and worse if he heard a cell phone beep.

Now the jury spaces at 111 Centre Street in downtown Manhattan are smart mob friendly. Enforcement is not mentioned; jurors are expected to comply - as they are with their time of arrival and putting newspapers they finish reading into the recycle bin. The rules for cellphones accommodate everyone and protect the privacy of the judicial system:

Jurors must keep their cell phones set on vibrate everywhere in the building.
Jurors may only talk on their cell phones in the large hallway outside of the juror room. We were told in the orientation that this rule was to keep people not using phones from being bothered.
Taking pictures or audio recordings is forbidden in the entire building, protecting the confidentiality of judicial process.
There is free wireless access in the jury room. (I would guess 20% of the waiting jurors sat with open laptops, working away or surfing the Net as they waited for a call.)
An adjacent room provides free laptops with wireless access for juror use. (I checked my gmail on one of the dozen or so computers provided.)

The last time I served jury duty in New York City, six years ago, there was no Internet access and cell phones intimidated the system much like they now in in schools. Talking on cell phones in the juror room where dozens of citizens waited to be called into a courtroom was discouraged, but people [...]